Investigations on polyethylene glycol-induced cell fusion - freeze fracture observations.
Aqueous solutions of more than 35% polyethylene glycol (PEG: m. w. 1500) fuse mammalian monolayer cells. The strong "water affinity" of these solutions and a changed conformation of the PEG molecules seem to us responsible for their fusogenic activity. Aggregation of surface proteins of a single cell membrane and of neighbouring ones, causes protein-free phospholipid areas as well as close cell-cell contacts. After washing off fusogenic PEG solutions, cells, adhering to each other where particle free membrane areas are attached, may start to fuse spot-like at these sites within a 5-60 min. incubation period. The PEG-induced intracellular processes (e.g. increase in vesicles and Golgi-fields) supposedly are involved in expanding the small cytoplasmic connections to polynuclear cells.
D002459:Cell Fusion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005614:Freeze Fracturing / Q000379:methods; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols